City may not have to demolish Huntin’ Hut

Wednesday

Dec 26, 2012 at 6:00 PM

It appears the city of Hannibal will not be stuck with paying for another expensive demolition of a commercial building.

DANNY HENLEYdanny.henley@courierpost.com

It appears the city of Hannibal will not be stuck with paying for another expensive demolition of a commercial building. The Huntin’ Hut building at 1924 Market St. will apparently be brought down by its new owner, George Phillips of Arnold.According to multiple sources, Phillips purchased sight unseen the property which earlier this year had wound up in the hands of the county trustee.Reportedly, Phillips intended to renovate the structure, which lost a portion of a rear wall in early April 2010. However, after coming to Hannibal to inspect the building Phillips had a change of heart.Joey Burnham, city building inspector, said Phillips was slated to appear at the Building Commission’s December meeting to “explain his intentions” for the site. Phillips, however, was a no-show at the meeting.According to Tina Bartz, management assistant in the Public Works Department, Phillips secured on Dec. 10 the permit necessary to place a large dumpster at the site. However, as of Wednesday morning Phillips had yet to return to city hall to acquire a demolition permit.Bartz says that Phillips indicated to her that he would not make any final decisions until he checked to see if it has a basement. He also wanted to determine for himself the building’s structural integrity.The structure has been on the city’s radar since March 2010 when it was first taken before the Building Commission. The courts became involved in June 2010 when the first hearing regarding the property was scheduled.Not having to pay for the Huntin’ Hut’s demolition will mean a savings of tens of thousands of dollars to taxpayers. The removal of commercial buildings is not cheap as the city well knows. • In June of 2007 it cost $28,420 to remove 1415-17 Market St.• In late 2009 the city spent $42,420 to bring down 520 Broadway, which had become very unstable after a portion of its roof collapsed.• Earlier this year $14,400 was spent to bring down 1419-21 Market St.• The city estimated it would cost between $57,000 and $60,000 to tear the old Maryland Hotel (Conklin Hotel) in downtown Hannibal. That property was purchased earlier this year by Bricker Excavating/Demolition, which intends to raze the building.